Behind the scenes, the Silver Stars knew Holdsclaw was a “good fit” for them, general manager Dan Hughes said.

The problem, though, was whether Holdsclaw felt the same way. Apparently, she did.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 WNBA draft signed with the Silver Stars on Friday — just two days after Atlanta released her after being unable to fulfill her trade demands.

The Silver Stars waived guard Belinda Snell to make room for Holdsclaw on their 11-player roster.

The 6-foot-2 Holdsclaw, 32, is expected to make her Silver Stars debut tonight at the AT&T Center when the team hosts the Los Angeles Sparks, one of Holdsclaw's former teams.

“We're extremely excited to add a player of her caliber to our team,” Silver Stars coach Sandy Brondello said. “We were lucky enough it fell in our hands and we were able to sign her.”

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Silver Stars center Michelle Snow, perhaps more than anyone, knows her fortunate the team might be with the signing.

Holdsclaw has career averages of 17.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals, and averaged 13.9 points during an injury-plagued season last year with Atlanta.

“I think it's blessing for us to have her,” said Snow, who played with Holdsclaw last year in Atlanta and for one season in college at Tennessee. “It almost seems like that missing piece that we kind of needed.

“Even from the outside, I noticed that there was something special about this franchise. Obviously, Chamique noticed the same thing.”

Holdsclaw now just hopes to blend in with the Silver Stars (1-1), giving the team another option.

“It's great to be here,” Holdsclaw said. “It's a different energy, and it's a new journey, and I'm excited about it.

“I just got to come in and just play hard and really learn to fit into things.”

Brondello thinks the transition will be seamless, especially on a veteran-led squad that features Becky Hammon and Sophia Young.

“She's a great player,” Brondello said of Holdsclaw. “It's not often you have a player that's 6-foot-3 and has guard-like skills.

“We want her to come in and be Chamique. That's how she's going to help us.”